The Commission for Behavioral Health Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Pilot Project
CIBHS’ SUD Pilot Program builds a sustainable, equity-centered infrastructure for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) by integrating medical care into non-medical settings and advancing scalable financing and delivery models across California.
Project Start/End Dates: 2024 to 2027
Geographical Area(s) of Focus: Los Angeles County, Nevada County, Marin County
Funder: The Commission for Behavioral Health (CBH)
Team Members: Victor Kogler; Ashlye Durrell, MSW; Amy McIlvaine
Project Overview
CIBHS leads a substance use disorder (SUD) Pilot Program designed to move beyond short-term solutions and establish a permanent, financially sustainable infrastructure for access to medications for addiction treatment across California. Operating in Los Angeles, Marin, and Nevada Counties, the pilot advances scalable service models across diverse community and service settings.
The pilot lays the groundwork for an equitable, financially viable system of care that can be sustained beyond the pilot funding period.
Why This Work Matters
California continues to face an escalating opioid and fentanyl crisis, compounded by workforce shortages and fragmented delivery models. Expanding access to MAT—particularly in non-medical treatment settings—requires sustainable financing mechanisms, integrated medical capacity, and trust-centered approaches that reach communities most impacted by substance use–related disparities.
How This Work Is Done
The pilot expands MAT access by integrating medical prescribers into traditionally non-medical settings, including Residential and Outpatient Treatment Programs. CIBHS works in close partnership with county systems and providers to help build long-term clinical and financial capacity while testing innovative delivery models that can be scaled and replicated statewide.
Key Focus Areas
Sustainable Financing & Payment Reform
Advancing a cost-sharing model by supporting providers in adopting Medi-Cal payment reform protocols, enabling sustainable Medi-Cal billing and long-term prescriber stability.
Innovative Delivery Models
Scaling a Telephone Prescriber Model in partnership with county public health leadership to accelerate access to life-saving care and establish a replicable blueprint for statewide implementation.
Learning Collaborative & Systems Alignment
Facilitating a high-level Learning Collaborative that brings together county leaders, the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Program, and treatment provider staff to share data, address implementation successes and barriers, and refine best practices in real time.
Equity-Centered Implementation
Based on California-specific data, CIBHS employs participatory, equity-centered strategies to ensure the pilot reaches populations most impacted by the opioid crisis. This includes engaging trusted community organizations, using data to identify access gaps, and developing culturally responsive, bilingual outreach and workforce strategies.